📍6 Best Brisbane Riverwalk Sections For Epic Riverfire Firework Photography!
DISCOVER THE BEST BRISBANE RIVERWALK SECTIONS FOR BRISBANE’S UNFORGETTABLE RIVERFIRE FIREWORKS AND FLYBYS!
The iconic Brisbane Riverwalk is a series of scenic waterfront pathways lining extensive sections of the Brisbane River throughout the inner city. These popular, fully-paved trails provide picturesque walking, cycling and photographic opportunities to soak in the urban ambience while enjoying incredible skyscraper, city and river views. They are one of the many cornerstone attractions that give the Queensland capital its enviable title of Australia’s premier River City.
But they’re not just great for a riverside walk to see landmark features such as the Story Bridge, CBD skyscrapers, and the City Cats ferries cruising past anytime during the day or night. And they double as phenomenal places to watch and photograph the fireworks for the unforgettable Brisbane Riverfire show and New Year, making them all excellent places to visit year-round.
So, if you’re ready to find the best spot, here are my top 6 favourite Brisbane Riverwalk sections you won’t want to miss.
👉 Best Brisbane Riverwalk Sections – My picks:
- City Reach Boardwalk.
- New Farm Riverwalk.
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5 Best Brisbane Riverwalk Sections.
1. City Reach Boardwalk.
The City Reach Boardwalk is another gorgeous pathway lining the Brisbane River, only this one is on the eastern side of the CBD and backs onto the famous Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane’s premier fine-dining riverside precinct.
This area is revered because it has magnificent, uninterrupted views of the city’s most iconic structure, the Story Bridge. It’s beautiful all throughout the day but is most magical at dusk when the lights turn on and illuminate the darkening sky, and is even more so during Brisbane Riverfire, where it’s always one of my favourite spots to watch the fireworks erupt from the bridge into the night sky and cascade down into the water.
2. New Farm Riverwalk.
No city nails the enviable riverine lifestyle like Brisbane! It’s Australia’s revered River City. One of the best ways it achieves this top-tier status is through its long riverside walkways that hug the Brisbane River, which spectacularly showcase its cityscape scenery. And with so many scenic crossings packed into such a small area, Brisbane could easily earn the nickname Queensland’s Bridge City.
A unique example that combines these two intrinsic elements is the New Farm Riverwalk: a floating pedestrian- and cycle-friendly pathway that stretches 870 metres out over the river, providing a beautiful, peaceful escape. Add the breathtaking angular views from the lesser-seen side of the city’s most famous landmark, the Story Bridge, and it’s little wonder why this is one of Brisbane’s most sought-after places to visit.
Just keep in mind that during Brisbane Riverfire’s explosive fireworks display, the Riverwalk is closed — so plan ahead.
👉 Quick Guide To Brisbane:
- 🚗 Getting Around: Public transport for the inner city, Renting a car elsewhere(Taxis & Ubers are expensive.)
- 🌄 Must-Do Activities: Summiting the Story Bridge, snorkelling and kayaking the Tangalooma Wrecks, and abseiling the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
- 🏠 Best Hotel: Jephson Hotel & Apartments.
3. Clem Jones Promenade, South Bank Parklands.
The South Bank Parklands are one of Brisbane’s must-visit attractions. Part of what makes it so highly regarded are the pathways that run alongside the city’s iconic river and provide beautiful views of the CBD’s western river frontage.
The photogenic footpath is called the Clem Jones Promenade, and it’s gorgeous during all hours of the day. But it’s also one of the premier places to watch two of Brisbane’s biggest and best events: the New Year’s celebrations and Brisbane Riverfire. Watch the fireworks ignite the night sky during both events, and the laser show and RAAF military planes fly by during the latter.
You can also enjoy skyline views from swimming in South Bank’s famous lagoons, especially Streets Beach. And in limited areas, see the fireworks in full view too.
4. Kangaroo Point Riverwalk.
The Kangaroo Point Riverwalk is probably the most low-key Brisbane Riverwalk in the city. That’s because most people are there for the spectacular 20m-high views overlooking the breathtaking CBD skyscrapers and iconic Brisbane River, which lies to the northwest of this popular panoramic clifftop lookout.
Far fewer people descend to the bottom of this convict-carved escarpment, which shares the same incredible scenery. This just makes it one of Brisbane’s best hidden gems and the perfect place for romantic hideaway picnics, picturesque strolls, city cycling adventures, and photographers on the hunt for different perspectives.
However, for all those great things, it’s less of a good spot for the Brisbane Riverfire and New Year’s fireworks as they’re not usually on this side of the river. They are mostly on in front of the South Bank Parklands and, for Riverfire, off the Story Bridge, with typically only one barge closer to the landmark for the spectacular show, which I think needs to change.
That said, you might be able to see the first ones I mentioned going off above the City Botanic Gardens, like I saw one year from the top of the cliffs, and some of the ones exploding off the skyscraper rooftops, but it’s not the best bet.
5 Best Brisbane Riverside Parks.
5. Captain Burke Park.
While the Howard Smith Wharves take up occupancy under the northern end of the Story Bridge, Captain Burke Park lies beneath the southern side. The beautiful urban park shares similar acute angles of the famous bridge and its underside, perfect for those who like to see the architecture of iconic structures up close. But where it one-ups the aforementioned is with its tremendous views of the Eagle Street Pier skyscrapers.
It’s also a fantastic spot to be when Riverfire fireworks erupt over the Brisbane River and explode above the Story Bridge. But be warned, it’ll be loud! Bring earplugs. However, it is a little close for this type of photography.
6. Howard Smith Wharves.
If you follow the City Reach Boardwalk along the river to the bridge’s underside, you come to the hippest part of the city, the Howard Smith Wharves. Whereas Eagle Street Pier has high-end restaurants, the latter has more casual dining, but the views here are equally spectacular.
The riverside area provides incredible close-up views of the famous Story Bridge and its underside, but it’s not limited to there. Take the lift up the cliff face and discover eye-level visuals of the beautifully imposing structure. From here, you can also walk the pedestrian path across it and enjoy even more breathtaking city scenery!
Conclusion: Best Riverwalks In Brisbane.
The Queensland capital is a gorgeous riverside city. Luckily, there’s no shortage of viewpoint and lookouts in Brisbane and beyond where visitors can appreciate the beauty and scope of this breathtaking and vibrant place.
If you plan to visit Brisbane, consider looking at these other posts.
